Network Rail apologises after crucial project shuts a Kentish Town horse arena

Network Rail has said it is sorry after essential repair work on a wall meant that the Kentish Town City Farm has had to shut its horse arena.

A wall they are repairing in Kentish Town supports part of the farm, and the works meant the arena had to close.

Gary Walsh, route director for Network Rail, said: “We’re really sorry for the impact our work is having on the farm and local residents. The wall next to Tottenham Curve tunnel was moving. To address this, we’ve been excavating above the tunnel and have managed to stabilise the wall. However there is more work to do on site to fully fix the issue.

“We know how important the farm is to the local community and we will do everything we can to support the farm and complete our work as quickly as possible.”

Eira Gibson, director of Kentish Town City Farm, said: “We are absolutely gutted that as we emerge from the pandemic and into our 50th Birthday year, we have had to close part of the site. We understand the essential nature of the work and are thankful that no one – person or animal – has been hurt.

“The closure of the horse arena will be really bad news for lots of people in our community, especially members of our pony club which includes classes for children and young people with disabilities. Before the pandemic, we invested in a hoist so we could extend this provision and were looking to reinstate this activity as soon as possible. Sadly, this incident has meant further delay.

“While this is a huge disappointment, we know we will continue to adapt, evolve and grow back stronger. The support of local people has been central to the farm’s survival, and we ask that you bear with us while we understand the full impact of this on our site.

“The farm remains open, and we look forward to welcoming you – for early year’s farm fans, many who love seeing the trains as much as the farm animals, for a short time only we have an added attraction of an enormous digger! Come and visit the horses Murphy and Jester and the rest of the animals soon.”  

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